That's the message from the National Transportation Safety Board, which today recommended that states "ban the nonemergency use of portable electronic devices (other than those designed to support the driving task) for all drivers."

That means put the phone down and leave it there.

According to The Associated Press, "while the NTSB doesn't have the power to impose restrictions, it's recommendations carry significant weight with federal regulators and congressional and state lawmakers."

There has been an enormous amount of publicity in recent years about the dangers of distracted driving and in particular about the dangers of talking or texting while behind the wheel.